National Pride project, Gautam Buddha Regional International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport which are currently under construction is set to be constructed within scheduled time-frame.
The airports which are being constructed for minimizing the air traffic of the only international airport Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) will be completed within scheduled time if the airport construction continues in current speed States Civil Aviation Authority.
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation has said it is working extra hard to complete both airports within the estimated time and has given priority to airports under South Asia Tourism Infrastructure Development Project.
The work of runway, terminal and administrative building and control tower of Bhairahawa Airport is in final phase and the work of land acquisition and compensation process is also going on. 4 layer of blacktopping is being done at the runway and work up to 3rd layer has been accomplished and the work of 4th layer will be commenced very soon.
The airport will undergo equipment installation including communication and navigation system and other electrical work will be started after the airport structure completes and CAAN stated that they will go for certification process for the operation of the airport after the installation of equipment installation and electro mechanical components completes.
CAAN has agreed to precede $4.8 million project with Aeronautical Radio of Thailand to install Communication and Navigation Equipment. As per the agreement, the company must complete the project within 9 months.
Germany has also shown interest in operating and managing Gautam Buddha International Airport which is under construction at Bhairahawa.
The airport is set to have CAT I standard Instrument Landing System (ILS). Nepal Oil Corporation is also set to establish aviation fuel depot at the airport which will have capacity to reserve fuel of around two thousand kiloliter.
The construction of the airport is being done by the Chinese Construction Company Northwest Civil Aviation Airport Construction at around NRs. 6.22 Billion and was expected to be completed by end of 2017 but due to shortages of fuel and building materials and due to the months-long Terai closure in 2015 delayed the works by six months along with dispute between the Chinese contractor and the Nepali sub-contractor, Northwest Infra Nepal, and its operation deadline was revised to June 2018 and now to 2019.
Construction of Pokhara Regional Airport is also going on without disturbance and is stated to be completed within 2021 if the work continues in current process. The work of Land acquisition and compensation is being carried out and the work of runway, taxiway is also in final phase. Work of Domestic and international apron has also been completed.
The airport has completed more than 30% of physical progress and is set to achieve 35% progress within current fiscal year whereas airport project head has stated to aim for 40% of work progress in the same time.
The construction contract of the airport has been undertaken by Chinese Company CAMC Engineering to complete the work within 2021 July 10. The airport which is being constructed at budget of NRs. 21.6 Billion is rapidly being constructed and is expected to come into operation prior to scheduled time.
Pokhara airport site is located at Chhinne Danda, 800m above mean sea level in the city of Pokhara. It is situated 3km east of Pokhara’s existing domestic airport which is well connected to the Prithvi Highway (Kathmandu-Pokhara).
The airport is being constructed with intention to provide regional, domestic and international passengers with additional flight services over the current airport to encourage tourism in the Pokhara region, which is one of the popular tourist destinations in Nepal.
